Improvement in theatrical apparatus



V vsmm I aflwaw" V v I. I. STOD DARD.

THEATRIC AL APPARATUS.

No. 177,585. Patented May 16, 1876.

WITNESSES n'ronuns.

MPEIERS, PHOTOAJTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON D C UNITED STATES,

P TE T FFIOE.

JOHN I. STODDARD, OF SAVANNAH, GEORGIA.

lMPRQVEll I|ENT IN THEATRICAL APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent- Nofl77,585, dated May 16, 1876; application filed April 4, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JoHN IRVINE STOD- DARD, of Savannah, in the county of Ohath am and State of 'Georgia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Theatrical Apparatus, of which the following is a specification The figure is a perspective view of a theater-stage to which my improvement has been applied.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improvement in theatrical apparatus, to enablea snow-storm to be represented upon a stage.

4 The invention consists in the employment of cotton gins or heaters and cotton, in connection with a tightly-inclosed stage, to represent a snow-storm, as hereinafter fully described.

A represents a stage. B represents the side scenes, and 0 represents the curtain. The sides D of the stage are made close, and are extended up above the point where the curtain rolls up with cloth or wood, and the stage is covered above said point with cloth or wood, so as to prevent any draft. At each side of the St! ge, above the point at which the curtain rolls, are placed one or more ordinary cotton gins or heaters, E, which are driven by the theaterengine or by hand. They are supplied with cotton by an attendant, and discharge the cotton through openings in the upwardly-extended sides of the stage. The fine cotton flies about through the upper part of the inclosed stage, and, there being no draft to drive it out into the'audience-room, it finally settles down upon the stage like snow. The sides and back scenes should be painted to represent appropriate scenery. The foot lights should be covered with glass orwire-gauze F, to prevent the cotton from coming in contact with them.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent to myself- The improvement in theatrical apparatus specified, consisting of cotton gins or heaters E and cotton, in connection with a tightly-inclosed stage, A D, to represent a snow-storm,

substantially as herein shown and described.

1, JOHN IRVINE STODDARD.

Witnesses:

J NO. D. Ross, JOHN O. FERRILL. 

